Revision of Lineostethus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Discocephalini)

Abstract

LineostethusRuckes, 1966 has four species,L.clypeatus(Stål, 1862),L.graziaeHildebrand & Becker, 1982,L.marginellus(Stål, 1872), andL.tenebricornis(Ruckes, 1957); mostly restricted to Central America, but with distribution records in the southern North America.Lineostethusis one of the discocephaline genera with discoid head. The last review of the genus, from the 1980’s, focused on the genital morphology and failed to provide updated descriptions or a key to species. We had access to material from different collections, including several specimens representing new species ofLineostethus, and males ofL.marginelluswhich shows important variations in genital morphology. Here we update the generic description ofLineostethusand its known species and describe the new speciesLineostethusacuminatussp. nov. (holotype male in DZUP: Costa Rica, Guanacaste),Lineostethusauritussp. nov. (holotype male in AMNH: Mexico, Oaxaca),Lineostethusotarussp. nov. (holotype male in AMNH: Mexico, Michoacán) andLineostethussinuosussp. nov. (holotype male in DZUP: Mexico, Yucatán). Additionally, we provide identification keys and distribution maps.